Preventing data loss, corruption, a server crash, accidental deletion of files or a natural disaster is critical to the success and continuity of any business. Implementing a data backup system that ensures the full and speedy recovery of all of your data can mean the difference between seamless business continuity or having your business come to a full stop in the face of an unforeseen data loss emergency. However, while it is important to implement an effective backup system – the backup system must be monitored to ensure all data is successfully backed up as scheduled. Due to the time and expense involved with monitoring a backup system in-house, more and more businesses are opting for a managed backup solution, outsourcing the management of their backup system to a company with the expertise in data backup.  In-house resources can then be used more efficiently.
Managed data backup systems are data storage solutions that enable secure storage of all critical data while spending less capital and administration time dealing with the implementation and management of the backup system. With a managed backup system, your managed services provider continuously monitors the system to ensure successful backups are completed as scheduled.
While tape backup solutions are still a valid backup solution managed NAS devices with offsite storage for disaster recovery are proving to be a superior solution. Tape backup solutions are often reliable approximately 60% of the time due to open files, failed backups and hardware failure.
A managed NAS device can be configured to backup multiple Windows servers by partition or by logical drives. There are no file or folder-level exclusions, because a snapshot of the entire partition is taken at the block level on the hard drive.

Also, database applications such as Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Exchange Server transfer data in blocks without having to worry if files are open or if they are in use.

Some Key Components of NAS Technology Are:

1. Imaged based backups. An exact copy of the entire disk is created using the low level bits which enable a complete restore in the event of a server crash without having to reinstall the operating system and programs.
2. Incremental backups are then taken every 15 minutes or hourly which increases your data security instead of having to rely on nightly backups.
3. Database applications such as Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Exchange Server transfer data in blocks without having to worry if files are open or if they are in use.
4. There are no file or folder level exclusions due to the imaging technology.
5. Incremental snapshots are then periodically merged with the base image to simplify restoration of files, mailboxes, SQL tables/Databases or entire systems.
6. NAS Device backup images can be mounted and used as a server in the event of a server crash. Your business can be up and running in less than an hour and when your equipment is repaired or replaced the image can then be restored on the new server in a fraction of the time it would take to reinstall the operating system and programs before restoring data.

Off-Site Storage Facility

For complete disaster recovery protection, data can be securely transferred to an off-site co-location each day. Then, in event of a major disaster, a new NAS device can be imaged with your latest data and your data will be assessable usually within 24 hours.

A quality offsite storage facility will provide:

• Backup images stored at an out of state  data centers and then replicated to a secondary facility
• Connectivity provided by multiple providers with automatic failover capabilities
• Full physical security at each facility including security cameras and key card access
• Network is secured with high-end redundant, automatic failover firewalls
• Fire suppression and environmental control
• Automatic back-up power provided with on-site generators

In summary, data backup and disaster recovery are an often overlooked aspect to a network. Very Often backups are not monitored and tested properly and are assumed to be working until a restoration is needed only to find out there was a backup failure when it is too late. In the event of a complete disaster very often a company will fail when it cannot restore their data. The combination of a NAS device with imaging capabilities, off site synchronization and remote monitoring from your managed services company will give you the security and peace of mind that your data is secure.